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Colville National Forest surrounds Metaline, Washington with several primitive tent camping options, including the highly-rated Crescent Lake Campground located just one mile south of the Canadian border. This free, first-come, first-served campground features three tent sites nestled among thick pines uphill from a pristine lake with turquoise waters. Sullivan Creek Campgrounds offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites along a creek, with larger sites that can accommodate multiple tents. Mill Pond Campground in Metaline Falls provides tent-only camping from Memorial Day to Labor Day, while Lake Thomas Campground, about 30 miles south, offers tent campsites with direct trail access to the lake.
Most tent campgrounds in the Metaline area feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and tent pads on natural surfaces. Bear boxes are provided at Crescent Lake and Sullivan Creek, indicating active wildlife in the region. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, but drinking water is rarely available, requiring campers to bring their own supply. Access roads to backcountry tent sites can be narrow with downhill slopes, sometimes requiring high-clearance vehicles. Winter snow often blocks access to higher elevation tent-only camping areas until late spring, with some forest service roads to Priest Lake only accessible during summer months.
Tent campers visiting Crescent Lake report exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. According to one visitor, the area provides sightings of "turtles and frogs on the shores, as well as elk, deer, bald eagles and even a bear." The small size of these primitive tent campgrounds contributes to their quiet atmosphere, with Sullivan Creek offering sites spaced far enough apart that "the breeze and sounds of nature" drown out any neighboring noise. Walk-in tent sites throughout the region provide greater seclusion than drive-in options, with one camper noting that while drive-up sites on nearby lakes were full, walk-in areas remained empty even during peak season. Fall brings vibrant colors and fewer crowds to these backcountry tent camping locations.
"It is a free campground, 1 mile south of the Canadian border. The road in is narrow and has a bit of down hill slope. Each site is equipped with fire rings, bear boxes and picnic tables."
"This is for Crescent Lake in the NE corner of washington, not the one in the olympics(which is also a wonderful campground)."
"Ours had camp chairs, table, bucket for water, fire ring, lighter. Very pretty views."
from $60 - $100 / night
Check Availability"All the campgrounds around Sullivan Lake were nearly full and busy. We had this entire place to ourselves, what a treat but also a shame it isn’t being better utilized."
"Some spots even have trails from campground to the lake! Large range of wildlife, birds, fish, deer, moose, and we even saw bunnies!! Worth the fee Id say!"
RangerNice little RV spot. Half of the park is closed for new electrical work. We are a little close together, but it works out fine. This is a Thousand Trails/KOA combined park with a little store and nice staff. Hot Tub and Pool at the clubhouse. Small Lake for fishing and paddle boats.
ScoutGreat, clean, and peaceful. Perfect spot for an outdoor weekend getaway with the family. Highly recommend!
ScoutGreat visuals. The views are fantastic. Great dock and put in for kayaks and boats. But the road noise gets to me after awhile.
GuideSmall campground but well maintained! We rode e-bikes to the local restaurant, marina and general store. Beautiful area!
GuideWe got the nice pull through near the end of the spots. It was level with a large flat picnic area overlooking the little creek. Paddled the creek a bit but can’t really get far. Surrounded by private land so not much hiking- that’s the only complaint really. Toilets clean despite lack of camp host. Site was clean and level, quiet place despite moderate traffic in and out.
LegendReeder Bay is my favorite spot on Priest Lake. Getting a campsite here in July is usually next to impossible, but I set up a Dyrt Alert and managed to snag a waterfront site for my tent the second someone canceled.
Love:
-Prime Location: Road traffic noise is a non-issue; it’s tucked away and quiet in terms of cars. Plus, there's a beach walk right from camp that leads over to the neighboring resort.
-Facilities: The bathrooms were surprisingly clean and feature actual flush toilets!
-Convenience: Firewood is available right on-site for $8 a bundle (bring cash!)
Downside:
-Generator Hub: Even though there are no hookups or potable water, about 90% of the campground was filled with oversized RVs. Because of this, you’ll hear generators running almost nonstop, which takes away a bit from the peaceful wilderness vibe if you're tent camping.
TravelerWe booked this site as a place to hold church summer camp for the youth and loved it! It is a double site and we were able to have 12 tents up, single- to 2-man size, and a large tent for leaders. It looked like a cute little pop up village, and everyone was able to find a comfortable spot with a good radius of space between tents! This location was right across from bathrooms and bear trash cans, with a potable water spigot just around the bend. Quick access to the lake, too! It was easy for us to bring kayaks from the dock over to the beach, which had good seating areas and a nice floating dock out just a little ways. There was plenty of room for kitchen set up, and all the extras we wanted like a changing tent, a camp shower, a couple large folding tables for crafts - and all this without crowding the picnic tables around the fire pit or the girls’ individual tents! There are some good hiking trails around the site, a nice little outdoor amphitheater back behind another campsite, and about three parking spots right by each site. This location is a little set back from the highway, but close enough that you still catch a bit of the noise pollution from traffic. You also run into quite a few people while there, though the campsite we had felt spacious and private. Those were the only things I wish were slightly different, just hoping for a more secluded experience. I LOVED that there is no cell service, and you can spend the whole day out on the water kayaking through the chains of lakes, either over to Sherry or Thomas and around.
ScoutI was invited to spend a day camping with my girlfriend's family, who had rented their campsite for a week. I really liked the campground itself. The property was beautiful, the beach was great, and we had a wonderful time with family and friends. If I were rating the campground based only on the location and amenities, it would be much higher.
Unfortunately, what stood out most during my visit was our experience with the campground host, Cindy.
Throughout the day, I personally observed several interactions that I felt were unnecessarily confrontational. My girlfriend smiled and greeted Cindy, but Cindy appeared visibly irritated by the interaction. I also witnessed Cindy yell at children who were running the opposite direction on what was a one-way road intended for vehicles. While I understand that rules exist for safety, the way she addressed them came across as unnecessarily harsh.
Shortly after my girlfriend's parents arrived, Cindy confronted them because their boat was parked at their campsite while they were still unloading and setting up their tent. They had only been there about 30 minutes. I also witnessed disagreements between Cindy and other campers over campground rules. Several families we knew, all of whom had paid to camp there, had similar negative interactions with her during the week.
One interaction that especially stood out to me was when Cindy continued explaining an issue to a member of another family's group who has severe mental disabilities instead of directing the conversation to the responsible adults. I found that interaction particularly uncomfortable to watch.
From what I observed, Cindy regularly drove around the campground looking for violations and seemed quick to confront campers over even minor issues, including someone feeding their dog at their campsite. During one of these encounters, I noticed she had a stack of notices, paper, and markers on her golf cart, seemingly ready to issue warnings.
In my opinion, Cindy's management style created unnecessary tension throughout the campground. She came across as overly authoritative and frequently spoke to campers in a way that I felt was disrespectful. She reminded me of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz because she constantly seemed to be searching for the next problem rather than helping campers enjoy their stay.
The campground itself is beautiful, and I truly enjoyed the location, beach, and time with family. My only complaint is the host. I hope management addresses the way guests are treated because the campground deserves better hospitality than what I experienced during my visit.
GuideNot a bad Campground bathrooms are a little outdated reservation always A issue no first come first serve, and unfortunately a fire ban
The Colville National Forest encompasses 1.1 million acres of wilderness surrounding Metaline, Washington, situated in the northeastern corner of the state at elevations ranging from 1,600 to 7,300 feet. Tent campsites near Metaline, Washington operate primarily between late spring and early fall due to significant winter snowpack that can persist through mid-May at higher elevations. Several primitive campgrounds feature tent-only sites with varying degrees of accessibility.
Fishing opportunities: Sullivan Creek Campgrounds provides direct access to Sullivan Creek with stocked trout fishing. According to Marcus K., "Sullivan lake is about 2-3 miles west and priest lake is 20+ miles to the east. If you do not have a 4wd vehicle I wouldn't recommend driving on the service road to Priest."
Wildlife observation: The campgrounds around Metaline offer substantial wildlife viewing in natural settings. Steve C. notes that Mill Pond Campground has "recently updated with paved roads and flat gravel parking pads. All facilities are extremely nice. The only downside is that all the sites are a short ways off the stream that flows past."
Cross-country skiing: Some areas near Metaline transform into winter recreation zones when camping season ends. At Frater Lake, camper B reports, "This place isn't meant for established or even disbursed camping. There are no campsites... the trails would be great for cross country skiing."
Natural water features: Crescent Lake Campground receives consistently positive reviews for its water clarity. Andrea R. explains, "The lake was even clearer than the one on the west side, it is stocked with Rainbow trout, and it's super awesome to see where you are fishing. For being a roadside lake I was quite impressed."
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the small, secluded nature of campgrounds in this region. Becky describes Crescent Lake as "Secluded Yet Just Off the Road... The 3 sites are in full shade and are NOT on the water. Crescent Lake in the Colville National Forest is tiny and only would take 5 mins or less to paddle to the other side."
Off-grid experience: Lake Thomas Campground offers a more remote camping experience. Connie S. reports, "Such a good campground! Sorta small some are but others work well for group spots! Some spots even have trails from campground to the lake! Large range of wildlife, birds, fish, deer, moose, and we even saw bunnies!!"
Limited site availability: The most popular tent camping locations near Metaline have very few sites. Heartworn H. notes about one location, "I tried coming here twice and both times it was not only full, but many cars circling through the loops in search of a camp. I ended up camping a little farther west, but came to spend the days here."
Access road challenges: Roads to many tent sites require appropriate vehicles. At Mountain Refuge Ranch, a private campground option, Jayme B. describes, "It's a huge private property with a lot of amenities at each site. Ours had camp chairs, table, bucket for water, fire ring, lighter. Very pretty views."
Bear safety requirements: Many campgrounds provide bear boxes, indicating the need for proper food storage. Marcus K. explains that at Sullivan Creek Campground, "Site 6... Large site that can accommodate two small travel trailers (up to 20 ft) and multiple tenting areas. Large bear box, and fire ring."
Choose sites with amenities: For family camping trips, sites with basic facilities make the experience more comfortable. Regarding Mill Pond Campground, Steve C. notes, "We spent one night the week before Labor Day weekend. All the campgrounds around Sullivan Lake were nearly full and busy. We had this entire place to ourselves."
Look for multi-tent capacity: Families often need larger sites for multiple tents. At Sullivan Creek, Marcus K. describes, "This site #8 is one of the larger sites at Sullivan Creek. It's right next to the river and about 150 yards from the road. At the site: Fire Ring, and a bear box."
Plan water activities: Lakes and streams provide natural entertainment for children. Andrea R. notes about Crescent Lake, "There is a rope swing, however, the lake is not deep enough at the moment to be able to swing. People do kayak and canoe. There is no room for your trailer."
Size restrictions: Most primitive tent sites near Metaline cannot accommodate large RVs. For Crescent Lake, Andrea R. advises, "There are only three campsites, best for tents or very small campers, no your 40 foot RV will not fit.....They are not reserveable, fcfs."
Limited services: RV campers should prepare for self-contained camping. Marcus K. notes about Sullivan Creek, "Pack in and pack out! Sullivan lake is about 2-3 miles west and priest lake is 20+ miles to the east."
Alternative campsites: When tent-only areas are full, nearby locations might accommodate smaller RVs. Marcus explains, "We love this site. Close to the road and creek. Large site that can accommodate two small travel trailers (up to 20 ft) and multiple tenting areas."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Metaline, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Metaline, WA is Crescent Lake Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 50 tent camping locations near Metaline, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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